Trump Assassination Suspect Requests Prisoner Swap, Death Penalty in Court Letter

Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in Florida, has written a letter to U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon questioning why the death penalty is not an option in his case and proposing a prisoner swap with U.S. adversaries such as Iran, Hamas, or China. In his letter, Routh expressed a desire to represent himself in court, criticizing his appointed attorneys as strangers who do not understand him. He suggested being sent to harsh conditions in Siberia in exchange for a Ukrainian soldier and implied that such a swap could be a diplomatic win for Trump. Routh was arrested near Trump International Golf Club armed with a military-grade rifle and had prepared a sniper hideout before fleeing when confronted by Secret Service agents. The charges against him include attempted assassination of the president, assaulting a federal officer, and firearms violations. This incident marks the second such assassination attempt against President Trump within months, highlighting ongoing security concerns.